16 Interesting Facts About Tajikistan

Tajikistan, nestled in Central Asia, is a country characterized by its mountainous terrain and rich cultural heritage. It is bordered by Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China, and is renowned for its rugged landscapes, including the Pamir Mountains, often referred to as the “Roof of the World.” The country’s history reflects a blend of Persian, Turkic, and Russian influences, with a cultural tapestry enriched by its diverse ethnic groups and traditions. Despite its stunning natural beauty, Tajikistan faces economic and developmental challenges, yet its strategic location and vibrant history continue to shape its identity in the region.

1. Tajikistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia and shares borders with Kyrgyzstan on the north, China on the east, Afghanistan on the south, and Uzbekistan on the west and northwest.
2. The meaning of the country name is “land of Tajiks. Tajiks denotes the name of a pre-Islamic tribe, while stan is a Persian word meaning “place of” or “country.
3. The official name of Tajikistan is the Republic of Tajikistan and is also known as Tajik Tojikiston or Jumhurii Tojikiston.
4. Mountains cover 93% of Tajikistan’s surface area. The two main mountain ranges are the Pamir Mountains and the Alay Mountains, which give rise to many glacier-fed streams and rivers.
5. Ismoil Somoni Peak is the highest mountain peak in the country and has an elevation of 7,495 m (24,590 ft) at its highest. It is also the 50th highest mountain peak on the planet.
6. Fedchenko Glacier is the world’s largest glacier found outside the polar region. It is covered in a distance of square miles (900 square km) and is about 45 miles (70 km) in length.
7. The country is super rich in terms of water resources due to enormous number of glaciers. There are about 947 rivers flowing in the country, of which the total length is 28,500 km.
8. There are about 1450 lakes in the country, some of which are located at the height of more than 4000 meters above the sea level.
9. Lake Karakul is the biggest lake in the country, lying at an elevation of about 13,000 feet, and is located in the Tajik National Park and Pamir mountain range. Whereas there is another lake named lake sarez, which lies in same mountain range and was formed in 1911 due to a massive landslide triggered because of an earthquake.
10. Nurek Dam of Tajikistan is the tallest embankment dam and second tallest dam on the planet with a height of 300 meters(984 ft). Whereas the tallest dam in the world is the Dixence Dam of Switzerland.
11. The country was an important linking chain of the famous silk route that use to connect Europe and Asia for trade.
12. The national drink of Tajikistan is green tea.
13. The top 5 exports of Tajikistan in the year 2018 was Gold ($212 Million), Raw Aluminium ($181 Million), Zinc Ore ($166 Million), Lead Ore ($116 Million), and Copper Ore ($75.2 Million).
14. The top 5 imports of Tajikistan are Refined Petroleum ($239 Million), Petroleum Gas ($161 Million), Wheat ($160 Million), Planes, Helicopters, or Spacecraft ($108 Million), and Rubber Footwear ($81.1 Million).
15. The country lies in a sensitive seismic zone, and every year the country faces 5000 deep and shallow earthquakes.
16. A traditional kind of wrestling known as Gushtigiri is the national sport of the country.